Apparatus for imparting the lateral direction to guns for indirect firing



Oct. 1, 1929. K. PETSCHENIG ET AL 1,730,290

APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING THE LATERAL DIRECTION TO GUNS FOR INDIRECT FIRING Filed Sept. 7, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet l [77 2/6 ntors A. 7 0130170272? and J 802120 22/ M, WWI/7,

1929- K; PETSCHENIG ET AL 1,730,290

APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING THE LATERAL DIRECTION '1'0 GUNS FOR INDIRECT FIRING Filed Sept. '1, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 2772 via 2" s A. l'thti?) and 1929- K. PETSCHENIG El AL 1,730,290

APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING THE LATERAL DIRECTION TO GUNS FOR INDI T FIRING Filed Sept. 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Fay-(9 and J Schier E c y 2:14; M, flan a Oct. 1, 1929.

K. PETSCHENIG ET AL APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING THE LATERAL DIRECTION TO GUNS FOR INDIRECT FIRING Filed Sept. 7, 1926 wlllllllllr 5 Sheets-Sheet Z77 z/enzors A. Pafschenzg 1929. K. PIl-ZTSCHENIG ET AL 1,730,290

APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING THE LATERAL DIRECTION T0 GUNS FOR INDIRECT FIRING Filed Sept. '7, 1926 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ffiw'nfons' I h. Feigahemg J Schicr Patented st. 1, 1929.

KARL PETSCHENIG AND JOI-IANN SCHIER, OF VIENNA, AUSTRIA, A

were

T@ EQE FIRM C. P. GOERZ OPTISGHE ANSTALT AKTIEIIGESELLSG 'ZAFT, AKCIO'VA SEGLECNOST K, P. GOERZ OPTIGKY USTAV, OF BRATISLAVA, CZISlGiIOSLGVAKIA APPARATUS FOR IMPARTING THE LATERAL DIRECTION TO GUNS FOR INDIRECT FIRING Application filed September 7, 1926, Serial No.

In indirect firing with fire arms, always an auxiliary target is used, such auxiliary targets either existing on the ground, that is to say a natural auxiliary target, or an auxiliary target especially mounted for this purpose,

that is to say, an artificial auxiliary target.

The natural targets are unavailable at night and in case of mist, whereas artificial auxiliary targets can in most cases be used only at a comparatively small distance from the tire arm.

As the means for determining the lateral direction cannot in general be arranged in the vertical axis of rotation of the fire arm any directing of the ordnance or machine gun to a fresh target results in an error in the lateral direction which by far exceeds the permissible limit in the case of auxiliary targets mounted at a small distance. Moreover there are errors due to the inevitable displacements of the vertical axis ofrotation of the gun the vertical, through the centre of the line connecting both bearing points of the wheels on the ground, and, furthermore,

errors due to the recoil and turnings of the gun.

The invention has for its object to avoid these errors and at the same time to mount the auxiliary target directly below or above the fire arm so that also perfectly masked ordnance or machine guns may be simply and safely trained laterally.

This is secured by mounting above or below the fire arm a rectilinear auxiliary target indicating any given direction and this auxiliary targetor a rectilinear mark in the aim taking device, for instance in an aiming telescope, is turned through the determined lateral angle whereupon by laterally training the fire aim the mark or its optical image is made parallel to the auxiliary target or to its horizontal projection or to its optical image. In carrying out this method the auxiliary targets for the individual gunsif desired before the gun is brought into positi0nmay be laid out on the ground as horizontal direction marks by means of a compass and a water level or in any other suitable manner in one and the same otherwise arbitrary direction and hence parallel to each other and 134,826, and in Germany September 18, 1925.

preferably horizontally for serving as an auxiliary aiming means, While the aiming means of the fire arm are provided With scale or parallel lined plates which are likewise horizontal or are made horizontal by optical projection which for obtaining the desired lateral direction and when adjusted to the commanded lateral angle relatively to the selected direction of the auxiliary target, must be made parallel to the predetermined iorizontal direction of the auxiliary target by turning the barrel or the carriage of the gun.

Of course the auxiliary target devices might be arranged to be turned relatively to the pointer marks held parallel to each other throu h the lateral angle in which case the scale or parallel lined planes of the aiming means mustbe made immovable relatively to the gun carriage.

The subject matter of the invention is illustrated in the annexed drawings by way of example in various constructional forms.

Fig. 1 shows a graph illustrative of the theoretical basis of the method, Figs. 2 and S are a side elevation and a plan view respectively of a gun provided with a device according to the invention with a stationary training plate below the an and a vertical sighting telescope with a rotatable direction mark.

Fig. 4: shows the corresponding sighting telescope in axial section and on a larger scale.

Figs. 5, S and 7 are views similar to Figs. 2, 3 and 4: respectively in connection with an ordinary si hting telescope with a hori zontal sight line.

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 show likewise views similar to Figs 2, 8 and 4 a tilting sighting telescope being used.

Fig. 11 shows a sighting telescope similar to that shown in Fig. 10 which, however, is not adapted to be tilted but is provided with an additional lens and a reflector.

Figs. 12 and 18, 14 are views likewise similar to Figs. 2, 3 and 4: with a rotatable training plate below the gun and with a vertical sighting instrument with a stationary direction mark. Figs. 15 and 16 show in side elevation and plan view an aiming instrument with a sighting telescope rotatable horizontally and in' a vertical plane use being made of auxiliary targets above the gun.

Figs. 17 and 18 are axial sections on vertical planes at right angles to each other partly in elevation of an aiming device similar to that shown in Figs. 15 and 16 with a stationary ocular and movable objective.

In Fig. 1, O is the point at which the fire arm is positioned; O X is the direction to the target (firing'direction) which is at a lateral angle 8 to the auxiliary target direction Z such angle being determined inany way, say by a side angle determining apparatus. aiming mark arranged above or below the tire arm is used as the auxiliary target direction such aiming mark being represented in the former case for instance by a wire extended horizontally or a horizontal board and in the latter case by a horizontal plate provided with parallel lines. It now a sighting instrument is mounted on the horizontally rotatable trunnion bearings (gun carriage) in the field of vision of which a diametrical line or a plate with parallel lines serving as a sighting mark is provided then in general on si htin the auxiliar tar et the latter will be at an angle to the sighting mark direction which of course varies as the gun carriage is turned.

Therefore in order to train the gun to'the lateral direction required which is at the angle 8 to the auxiliary target direction it is only necessary to adjust the sighting mark in the field of vision of the telescope or the parallel lined auxiliary target plate below the gun to the angle 8 by means of a circular division and a pointer and then to turn the gun carriage so far that the auxiliary target direction and the sighting mark in the field of vision appear as parallel or coinciding straight lines.

For carrying out this method according to the constructional form shown in Figs. 2, 3 and 1- a circular metal plate 2 in arranged as nearly as possible horizontal and adapted to turn around a vertical bolt 3 driven into the ground. This plate shows on top arrow headed parallel lines which by means of a compass may be adjusted with their arrow heads to any desired auxiliary target direction say to north; whereupon the plate may be locked against any rotary movement by means of plugs a. Above this training plate a telescope 6 is mounted on the gun carriage by means of a ball and socket joint (Fig. 4:) such telescope being adjustable to a vertical direction for instance by means of a water level and being prevented from turning around a vertical axis. In the field of vision of this telescope a plane glass plate 7 is mounted which shows a diametrical line serving as atarget mark. A so called focus water level 7 that is to say a perfectly transparent box water level may be mounted According to the invention anv above the said glass plate for making the field of vision exactly horizontal. The target mark etched on the latter may be rotated around a vertical axis by rotating the engaging worm spindle 9 the angle of rotation of the target mark may be adjusted in the known manner by suitable circular divisions.

Above the ocular of the vertical auxiliary target telescope 6 a mirror 10 inclined at an angle of to the horizontal may be provided as is illustrated in the constructional form according to Figs. 5, 6, 7. Then if the mirror is at a suitable level, the field of vision of the telescope 6 may be observed in the hold of vision of the usual sighting telesco 3e 11 havin a horizontal si ht line.

This arrangement is advantageous on account oi the convenient access to the ocular 12.

The vertical auxiliary target telescope may be dispensed with if the usual sighting'telescope with a horizontal sight line is rotatable around pivot pin 13 (Figs. 8 9, 10) on the gun carriage parallel to the trunnion axis or adjustable horizontally. For training by means of a parallel line plate 2 located below the gun the sighting telescope is provided with an additional lens 14; of suitable focal distance and is tilted to the front through an, angle of about 90 into the position shown in Fig. 8. Of course in this case too the diaphragm 7 of the field of vision provided with the target marking line 'must be rotatable around the axis of the ocular for the purpose of adjusting the desired lateral angle 8.

The usual sighting telescope may be used"- as an auxiliary target telescope without journalling it so as to be tiltable if, as shown in Fig. 11 in front of the additional lens 1a areflecting prism 15 is provided which causes the image of the auxiliary target to appear in the field of vision of the usual sighting telescope.

If an auxiliary target telescope without means for rotating the sighting mark is used (Figs, 12, 13, 1%) then for adjusting the direction tothe target at the lateral angle 8 with the direction of the arrow of the parallel lined plate the latter itself must be rotatable. In this case the horizontal plate 2 secured to the ground below the gun is provided with a circular division. In this plate 2 is concentrically journalled a parallel lined plate 16 provided with arrows of direction and an adjusting mark m.

The vertical auxiliary target telescope 6 is provided at its lower end with a rotatable mirror 17 which can be so adjusted and locked in position by means of a clamping screw 18 that about the centre of the plate appears in- I the field of vision.

The target mark in this diaphragm of the field of vision is then parallel to the axis of rotation of the mirror and at right angles to the vertical plane through the telescope axis and the vertical through the center of the axle of the Wheels.

In the constructional forms above described for each gun a separate auxiliary target parallel lined plate is required. It is of course also possible to use for all guns of a battery a single auxiliary target as has been assumed in Fig. 1. In this case as shown in Figs. 15, 16 a base plate 20 adapted to be positioned horizontally and provided with a circular division is mounted preferably on a bracket 19 or" the gun carried say by means of a ball and socket joint adapted to be locked in any position. On this base plate a second circular plate 21 provided with a pointer mark an is concentrically ournalled. In the latter plate a horizontal axis 22 is journalled to.

which the sighting telescope 23 and the handle disc 24 are secured. latter the optical axis of the telescope may be turned in the vertical plane at right angles to the axis of rotation 22. This telescope too has in the diaphragm 25 of the field of vision which in this case is stationary and properly adjusted. The telescope may then be locked in the adjusted position.

Instead of this auxiliary target sighting device in which the direction of looking into the ocular varies with the direction of the auxiliary target, also a sighting device having an invariable direction of locking into the ocular may be used more particularly in connection with an auxiliary target located above the gun. Figs. 17 18 show such a constructional form. In this case the angular telescope 23 connected to the gun carriage is not adapted to be rotated around avertical axis but only adapted to be positioned horizontally and to be adjusted vertically. In this case for adjusting the measured lateral angle 8 the telescope must be provided at its upper end with an annular plate 26 with a horizontal circular division, similar to the plate 20 in Figs. 15 and 16 in which a second annular plate 27, similar to the plate 21 Figs. 15 and 16, provided with a pointer mark is rotatable horizontally. The latter plate 27 carries a double prism reflector 29 rotatable around a horizontal axis 28, corresponding to the axis 22 Figs. 15 and 16, which reflector can be so adjusted and locked in position by turning the axis 28 by means of the handle disc 30 that the auxiliary target appears in the field of vision.

The operation of the device according to the invention is in all cases the same: The lateral angle determined for the auxiliary target direction O Z is adjusted on the existing circular division the zero point of which corresponds to the target direction 0 X 1) by means of the pointer mark m and then the gun carriage is trained so far, that the sighting mark coincides in the field of vision with the rectilinear auxiliary target By turning the located above or below or becomes parallel to the same or to its projection.

What we claim is:

1. In an apparatus for imparting to a gun a predetermined lateral direction for indirect firing, the combination of a gun, means for training the gun, a sighting device comprising a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator, means for permamently locking the sighting device to the gun for the rotary movement of the gun around a substantially vertical axis in training the gun, a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator independent of the gun and visible in the field of vision of the said sighting device and means for adjusting one of the direction indicators to a commanded angle, whereby after training the gun until the two direction indicators are in the same direction, the side direction of the gun is at the commanded angle to the nonadjusted direction indicator.

2. In an apparatus for imparting to a gun a predetermined lateral direction for indirect firing, the combination of a gun, means for training the gun, a sighting device comprising a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator, means for permanently locking the sighting device to the gun for the rotary movement of the gun around a Substantially vertical axis in training the gun, a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator comprising a plate independent of the gun and visible in the field of vision of the said sighting device and means for adjusting one of the direction indicators to a commanded angle, whereby after training the gun until the two direction indicators are in the same direction, the side direction or" the gun is at the commanded angle to the nonadjusted direction indicator.

3. In an apparatus for imparting to a gun a predetermined lateral direction for indirect firing, the combination of a gun, means for training the gun, a sighting device comprising a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator, means for permanently locking the sighting device to the gun for the rotary movement of the gun around a substantially vertical axis in training the gun, a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator comprising a plate adapted to rotate around a substantially vertical axis independent of the gun and visible in the field of vision of the said sighting device and means for adjusting one of the direction indicators to a commanded angle, whereby after training the gun until the two direction indicators are in the same direction, the side direction of the gun is at the commanded angle to the nonadjusted direction indicator.

4. In an apparatus for imparting to a gun a predetermined lateral direction for indirect firing, the combination of a gun, means for training the gun, a sighting device comprising a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator, means for permanently locking the sighting device to the gun for the rotary movement of the gun around a substantially vertical axis in training the gun, a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator independent of the gun and visible in the field of vision of the said sighting device and means for adjusting the said direction indicator of the sighting device to a commanded angle, whereby after training the gun until the two direction indicators are in the same direction, the side direction of the gun is at the commanded angle to the nonadjusted direction indicator.

5. In an apparatus for imparting to a gun apredetermined lateral direction for indirect firing, the combination of a gun, means for training the gun, a sighting device comprising a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator, means for permanently locking the sighting device to the gun for the rotary movement of the gun around a substantially vertical axis in training the gun, a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator independent of the gun and visible in the field of vision of the said sighting device at least one of the said direction indicators comprising aparallel lined plate and means for adjusting one of the direction indicators to a commandedangle, whereby after training the gun until the tWo direction indicators are in the same direction, the side direction of the gun is at the commanded angle to the nonadjusted direction indicator.

6. In an apparatus for imparting to a gun a predetermined-lateraldirection for indirect firing, the combination ofa gun, means for training the gun, a sighting device compris-. ing a vertical telescope mounted on the gun, a substantially horizontal sighting telescopev mounted on the gun, a mirror associated to the said vertical telescope and adapted to reflect the image produced therein into the field of vision of the horizontal sighting telescope and a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator, means for permanently locking the sighting device to the gun for the rotary movement of the gun around a sub-.

stantially vertical axis in training the gun, a permanently substantially horizontal direction indicator independent of the gun and visible in the field of vision of the said sighting device and means for adjusting one of the direction indicators to a commanded angle,

whereby after training the gun until the two direction indicators are in the same direction,

the side direction of the gun is at the commanded angle to the nonadjusted direction indicator.

In testimony whereof we have slgned our names to this specification.

KARL PETSCHENIG. JOHANN SCHIER. 

